Coronavirus update: AstraZeneca drug company acquires orders for COVID-19 vaccine

Drug maker AstraZeneca secured its first agreements Thursday for 400 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, bolstered by an investment from U.S. vaccine ncy. Anglo-Swedish company reported it h received more than $1 billion from U.S. Biomedical vanced Research and Development Authority for development, production and delivery of vaccine, starting this fall.

investment will accelerate development and production of vaccine, AstraZeneca Chief Executive Pascal Soriot said. It h alrey joined forces with British government. “We will do everything in our power to make this vaccine quickly and widely available,” he said.

Pharmaceutical companies including alsoIn a statement as markets opened, AstraZeneca said it has w secured manufacturing capacity for 1 billion doses and aims to secure furr agreements to expand capacity furr over next months “to ensure delivery of a globally accessible vaccine.'' company also finalized its licence agreement with Oxford University for vaccine, w kwn as AZD1222. vaccine was developed by Oxford University’s Jenner Institute, working with Oxford Vaccine Group.